National athletes to have dope tests before SEA Games
KUALA LUMPUR: All Malaysian athletes participating in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in June will undergo a mandatory doping test before departing for host city Singapore, a report said citing a senior sports minister.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the measure was necessary to overcome any possible abuse of banned substances by the country’s athletes.
“I have ordered the Malaysian Anti-Doping Agency to conduct doping test on every athlete going to the SEA Games,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency late Tuesday.
Malaysia has been hit by two high- profile doping cases recently.
The country’s badminton star and two- time Olympic silver medallist Datuk Lee Chong Wei was suspended after failing a doping test at last year’s badminton world championships.
Asian Games organisers last September expelled Malaysia’s wushu gold medal-winner Tai Cheau Xuen after
I have ordered the Malaysian Anti-Doping Agency to conduct doping test on every athlete going to the SEA Games.
she tested positive for a banned st imulant a f ter winning Malaysia’s first gold in at the Games.
Tai, who has returned her gold medal, was banned until March 2 0 and is among the Malaysian athletes heading to Singapore.
Khai ry said previous doping tests were only conducted on 30 per cent of the athletes picked at random before they take part in a major sports events.
Olympic Council of Malaysia secretary- general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi hailed the move, saying it will deter athletes from using banned drugs.
“It is a deterrent. This is to ensure no Malaysian athlete is tested positive,” he told AFP. Sieh conf irmed that wushu exponent Tai will participate in the Games since she has completed her fourmonth suspension period.
The Southeast Asian Games will take place from June 5-16. Athletes f rom 11 participating nations are expected to c omp et e in t he Games which will showcase 36 sports. — AFP
Khairy Jamaluddin, Youth and Sports Minister